WATER
CONSERVATION
Low Flow Toilets
Source:
ABC 7 Consumer: Low-Flush Toilets
September 05, 2002
Reporter: Elizabeth Manresa Posted By: Suleiman Wali
Low-Flush
toilets were mandated in 1994 as a water-saving
measure, but there's a problem. With a poorly
designed toilet, it may take two to three
flushes to get the job done.
This has become
such an issue for some people, they're crossing
the border to Canada to buy the older style
toilets. Toilets on the market now can use
only 1.6 gallons of water per flush, older
toilets use up to 7 gallons. But you can
find a new model that will do the job.
If you're re-doing
a bathroom and looking for a new toilet,
be forewarned: Some don't work very well.
In a specially designed lab, testers just
evaluated 28 toilets. Prices range from $100
to more than $600.
David Heim, Consumer
Reports: "We test toilets by simulating
their use with different kinds of products.
Products like blue dye, baby wipes, and small
plastic balls."
The most demanding
test used small sponges, large sponges, small
plastic balls and small water balloons. In
all, three different types of toilets were
tested. The differences were significant.
Heim: "Gravity-flush
toilets are the ones most people are used
to."
The water flowing
from the tank clears the bowl. Many
of these required multiple flushes to clear
the system, and some clogged completely. Pressure-assisted
toilets have a pressure storage tank inside.
They performed well, but they tend to be
noisy and pricey. The third type, vacuum-assisted
toilets, use a vacuum chamber to help pull
everything through the toilet's trapway. Heim: "Vacuum-assisted
toilets performed very well, and they weren't
noisy."
If you have an
older toilet, you can make it more water-efficient
by placing a water-filled plastic bottle
in the tank, or by installing a special flapper
valve. But be aware, there's a trade off.
Both of these methods will lower flushing
performance.
For
a list of the best rated low-flush toilets:
(Rated very good overall by Consumer Reports)
1.Briggs Vacuity 4200 $190 A Consumer Reports Best Buy
2. American Standard Cadet PA $450 (model 2333.100)
3. Gerber Ultra Flush $280 (model 21-302)
4. Crane Vacuum Induced Power Flush $250 (model VIP 3999)
5. Kohler San Raphael Power Lite $600 (model K-3398)
6. Crane Economiser $200 (model 3834)
7. Mansfield Quantum $230 (model 150-100)
8. Toto Carlyle $460 (model MS874114SG)
9. Kohler Wellworth $150 (model 3422m 3438, 3448,3479, 3480)
10. American Standard Cadet $170 (model 2798.012)
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